Playbooks
Quick Reference
In 2 playbooks
Breakdown
PA Cross Sit runs play action out of Shotgun Trey Y-Flex Str to sell the run fake before attacking the middle of the field with a deep crosser. Off the play fake, the deep route breaks across the field from the left side all the way to the far boundary while an underneath sit route settles in the intermediate zone in front of it, and both outside receivers run vertical releases to hold the corners and safeties deep. The primary read progresses from the sit route as the quick underneath answer against zone drops, then to the deep crossing route once the play fake has cleared linebackers out of the throwing lane, making this a zone beater designed to exploit defenders biting on the run action.
Defensive Reads
Pre-snap, identify single high versus two high safety shells since single high defenses are more vulnerable to the deep crosser sitting behind the second level. Watch linebacker depth at the snap: if they crash hard on the run fake, the throwing lane for the deep crosser opens up immediately behind them. User-controlled defenders sitting in a lurk technique over the middle of the field can jump the sit route, so know when to move to the crosser as your first read instead. Cover 2 and Cover 4 shells with disciplined linebackers who do not bite on the play fake will clog both the sit route and the crossing lane, shutting this concept down. Blitz packages that send extra rushers up the middle can be exploited since the deep crosser occupies vacated zone space behind the blitzing linebackers, but only if the quarterback has time to let the route develop.
Usage Tips
Use this on early downs (first or second and short to medium) when the defense has shown a tendency to respect the run out of this personnel, since the play fake needs linebackers to step up to be effective.
Check the defensive alignment pre-snap for linebacker depth: if they are sitting deep and not biting on the run fake, the sit route may be your safest completion since the crosser will not have space.
Hot route the sit route runner to a deeper curl if you see zone drops that will squat directly under his throwing lane, especially against Tampa 2 or Cover 3 shells.
Pair this play with Inside Zone or 0 1 Trap earlier in a series so the defense keys run action out of Trey Y-Flex Str, then punish over-aggressive linebackers with PA Cross Sit.
Rotate between PA Cross Sit and PA Verts or PA Slot Cross from the same set so defenses cannot sit on the crossing route concept, keeping the second level linebackers honest.
